Douglas to striker, Jackson to right central midfield, Boyd to central midfield. Now 4-3-3.

BOOKINGS

Kidderminster

Southport

McGrath 45+ Foul

Referee: Ian Smedley (Derbyshire)

Match Report by St@tto

Harriers finally recorded a home win at the fifth time of asking, two second half goals seeing off a very poor Southport side at Aggborough.

After the dreadful performance at York on Saturday Mark Yates made changes to the team, although some were forced through injury; Jake Sedgemore took over from Jeff Kenna at right back, Gavin Hurren moved forward to partner Russ Penn in the centre of the midfield and Andy White returned to the side in attack alongside Iyseden Christie.

Harriers were quick out of the blocks and showed far more enthusiasm and endeavour in the first ten minutes of the game than they have in most games so far this season put together. In the centre of the field Penn was stamping his authority on the game and both he and Michael McGrath came close to breaking the deadlock with long range shots. The midfield as a whole was impressive for Harriers and never allowed Southport to settle, all four harrying and closing down their opponents quickly and getting forward to support the attack when Harriers had the ball. On 25 minutes Penn made a surging run through the heart of the southport defence before rolling the ball out wide to Simon Russell and advancing to take the return, on this occasion, however, his touch let him down and Ryan Robinson in the visitors' goal was able to save.

Shortly afterwards Penn, again, won the ball in midfield and brought it forward with options either side of him he went for the shot himself from the edge of the penalty area and Robinson saved again. A short corner five minutes before the interval allowed McGrath time to aim his cross to the near post where it caused a scramble but Southport somehow got it clear. In the last minute of the half a long punt forward by Mark Creighton was knocked down by White to Penn who fired narrowly wide from 25 yards out. As the half ended goalless it seemed as though it was going to be another game where Harriers were going to be unable to break down their opponents and live to regret not taking their chances.

Southport came out for the second half looking as though they wanted to nick an early goal and then sit back and defend it; a free-kick from Mark Boyd out on the left wing almost caught out Scott Bevan who did well to turn it around the post for a corner, and from the corner Harriers were forced to scramble the ball away from the far post for another corner.

The visitors' brief resistance was ended after 49 minutes; Russell fed the ball to Christie in the inside right channel who turned his marker and crossed to the far post where White rose to head in his first goal of the season via a deflection or two. Harriers should have doubled their lead midway through the half when Jonny Harkness' long crossfield pass found White on the right who got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Christie who turned the wrong way and hit his shot so wide that it went out for a throw.

The second goal came fifteen minutes from the end to give Harriers some breathing space; Hurren received the ball in midfield and carried it forward, shrugging off his marker, before unleashing an unstoppable long-range drive into the top corner that had Robinson grasping at thin air. His first senior goal behind him, Hurren had the confidence to try his luck again every time he had the ball and could have added another five minutes later but his effort was blocked and when the ball ran loose to Penn he fired wide from 20 yards out. Near the end of the game a sweeping move involving Michael Blackwood, Penn and Christie set up Russell on the right who turned the full back inside out before chipping just over the bar. In stoppage time Southport had one last chance to pull a goal back but Boyd's free-kick beat the wall and went over the bar.

KidderminsterHarriers.com

In depth statistics, Latest News and Information on Worcestershire's premier football team including match reports, previews, players news and articles